Cuyahoga County shares safety tips for National Heat Awareness Day May 24

Cuyahoga County –Extreme Heat is the number one weather-related killer in the United States claiming more lives each year than floods, lightning, tornadoes and hurricanes combined. The Cuyahoga County Office of Emergency Management urges awareness of the dangers of upcoming heat emergencies for National Heat Awareness Day on May 24, 2013.

Heat Cramps are muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. Heat cramps are non-life threatening. Heat Exhaustion occurs when people overexert themselves in hot and humid conditions. If untreated, heat exhaustion may cause a victim to suffer heat stroke.
Heat Stroke, or Sun Stroke, damages the body’s temperature control systems. A victim experiencing heat stroke can suffer brain damage or death if they do not receive proper medical care.
Listed below are a few tipsto help you –Beat the H.E.A.T.

Hydrate. Whether you feel thirsty or not, drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated,especially when working or exercising outside.

Educate yourself.Know your local weather, temperature, and heat index forecasts. Take actions to stay cool and safe when the temperatures hits eighty-five degrees or the heat index is ninety degrees. Know the warning signs of a heat illness, and how you can stay cool.